Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves set for Manchester United return by end of January

Manchester United could be set for a double dose of New Year cheer on the injury front, with both Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves ready to return by the end of next month.

Ferdinand has not featured for United since being exposed by Fernando Torres at Anfield in October, while Hargreaves has now been missing for almost 15 months after undergoing career-saving knee operations to cure a tendinitis problem.

While Ferdinand stated earlier this week that he was not in danger of missing the World Cup with a long-standing back complaint, Fabio Capello has stated that Hargreaves must make his comeback soon if he is to stand a chance of getting to South Africa.

Battling back to fitness: Owen Hargreaves (left) and Rio Ferdinand

The England coach will therefore be an interested observer to see whether Ferdinand and Hargreaves fulfil Sir Alex Ferguson's stated aims for a return to first-team duties.

'Rio is improving,' said Ferguson. 'He is much better now and not too far away, probably two or three weeks.

'And Owen is doing a bit better this week as well. He is getting there slowly and we hope he will be back by the end of January.'